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15-year-old rescues neighbor's blind Chihuahua from sewage drain, report says

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A teenager is receiving praise for stepping into action to rescue a blind Chihuahua after hearing some cries from a sewage drain.

NJ.com reported 15-year-old Anthony Malagrino was walking home from school Friday when his cousin, Jennifer Hornreich, said he "heard some desperate cries coming from a sewage drain."

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It turned out the cries were coming from Peanut, a 16-year-old Chihuahua who is blind in one eye and has hearing loss that was reported missing March 17.

"She will cry and shake if I am not around," Peanut's owner, Mark Randall Harris, said in a message to a missing dogs Facebook page.

Harris spent days looking for her with his neighbors, NJ.com reported. Harris lives on the same street as Anthony.

Hornreich told NJ.com her cousin took the sewer cover off and got in the sewer to rescue the dog.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Hornreich said. “He jumped right into action.”

Harris said he ran out of his house as soon as he learned Peanut was found and sent Anthony a thank you note on behalf of himself and Peanut. It also included some reward money, according to NJ.com.

“Words can not express my gratitude for finding Peanut,” Harris said in a note to Anthony. “We have spent 16 years together and she is very dear to me. I can’t thank you enough.”

According to Harris, Peanut’s veterinarian said she was found just in time. Her organs were shutting down and her body temperature was severely low.